After a long Ottawa Winter many people realize that their lawn is looking a little rough once the snow has melted and that they may need to repair it before the beginning of the season. Many factors contribute to the grass not looking quite up to par in the Spring. You need not despair as there are several effective options available to rejuvenate your lawn’s look and health.
I know that very few want golf putting greens, but most want at least a decent looking lawn. Lawn that will be green, full and thick enough not to be overrun by weeds and ground covers like clover.
The are four options that we suggest to our clients and that can really improve the health and look of your lawn are:
- Dethatching to remove the dead organic material stuck in the grass in order to overseed and fertilize effectively. With the dead organic material removed, seed and fertilizer will have much better soil contact and yield optimal results. This ensures a very good return on the money you spend. Most properties would benefit from this maintenance since many homeowners have rarely if ever raked their lawns with a specifically designed thatch rake.
- Slit seeding also called slice seeding or power seeding to thicken the lawn. We own and use what we believe to be the most efficient over seeding machine in the industry which slices thin rows into the soil while dropping grass seed at a depth of approximately 2 inches. This has 3 critical benefits over traditional over seeding:
- It ensures the best soil to seed contact possible allowing the highest germination rate in the industry at up to 85% when performed correctly and using a high quality seed.
- The seeds are virtually hidden from sight from hungry nesting birds who are looking for food specially during the Spring.
- This method lessens the watering requirement necessary for seeds to germinate successfully. So if you think you might forget to water the new seeds once in a while or have time or mobility constraints, the slit seeding option is worth considering.
- Over seeding with enriched soil. We also offer traditional lawn rejuvenation by way of seeding over added a thin layer of organically rich soil. This method is preferred for fairly sparse and patchy areas that would benefit from topdressing most of the surface areas of the lawn. If it has been a while since your grass has been thick and lush and you’re now looking at large bare spots this may be your best choice.
- Core aeration of the turf. Core aeration is performed when an aerator essentially goes over a lawn and removes small plugs into 3 inches in depth. The main benefits of core aeration are to allow the soil to drain better and be less compacted. Seeds and fertilizer will perform better after it is performed as nutrients and water will reach the root zone more easily. This service can be performed as a stand alone improvement, but it is more beneficial when combined with a good dethatching to allow the turf to breathe and absorb and fertilize new seed successfully. Topdressing yields very good results after aeration and or power raking.
The ideal times to implement any of these techniques (slice seeding, over seeding or dethatching) is in the Spring, before the longer warmer days arrive in July, and in the Fall when cooler conditions are once again favorable for newly grown seeds to take root and mature successfully.
Once your lawn has undergone a professional rejuvenation you may want to consider a lawn care services to maintain it and to ensure it is cut at the right height and using powerful and well maintained machines.
If you do require lawn care service after a lawn improvement has been performed, I truly hope you consider Primo Landscaping. We always use professional machines with blades that are sharpened daily in order to efficiently cut the blades of grass reducing the risk of disease which can occur when less than sharp blades or underpowered machines are used and the blades are torn which slows their healing process making them susceptible to a disease such as mold.
Whether you are cutting the newly refreshed and improved lawn yourself or are having a lawn care company do it for you, make sure that it is not cut for a two weeks period after the lawn repair work is completed. This will give enough time for the new grass seed to germinate and its roots to take hold and withstand the first cuts. It is not uncommon to see eager homeowners or inexperienced grass cutters perform a first cut too soon and damage the newly seeded lawn.
Now time to answer that age old and controversial question, should the newly seeded or sodded lawn be munched or bagged? The answer is that depends. If you have a typical Ottawa area turf made up of rye, fescue and blue grass you may need to have it bagged as the more delicate blue grass can be chocked by the clippings that when not being cut by sharp blades can rapidly become thatch. As we explained earlier thatch can be harmful when found in larger amounts.
My 10 + years of gardening and maintenance experience make me tell my clients that the first few lawn mowing should be bagged to preserve the improved turf. I feel it’s better to be safe than sorry specially after having spent money trying to rejuvenate your lawn and improve your home’s curb appeal.
Whatever the conditions may be around your property, feel confident in contacting Primo Landscaping.
With a 5 star Google rating and A+ at the Better Business Bureau, we would be happy to let you know what your options are and add you to our growing list of satisfied homeowners in Nepean, The Glebe, Dows Lake, Money’s Bay, Gloucester and other parts of Ottawa.
